Shloka 9
अस्त्रयुद्धे द्रौणिपार्थसंघर्षः — Karṇa’s Bhārgavāstra and the Search for Yudhiṣṭhira
Chapter 45
को हार्जुनस्य सान्निध्ये शक्तो5भ्येतुं युधिष्ठिरम् । सर्वभूतानि यो होक: खाण्डवे जितवान् पुरा । कस्तमन्यस्तु राधेयात् प्रतियुद्ध्येज्जिजीविषु:,जिन्होंने पूर्वकालमें अकेले ही खाण्डववनमें समस्त प्राणियोंको परास्त कर दिया था, उन अर्जुनके समीप रहते हुए युधिष्ठिरपर कौन आक्रमण कर सकता था? राधापुत्र कर्णके सिवा दूसरा कौन है जो जीवित रहनेकी इच्छा रखते हुए भी अर्जुनके सामने युद्ध कर सके
sañjaya uvāca | ko hārjunasya sānnidhye śakto 'bhyetuṁ yudhiṣṭhiram | sarvabhūtāni yo lokaḥ khāṇḍave jitavān purā | kas tam anyas tu rādheyāt pratiyuddhyet jijīviṣuḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Who, with Arjuna standing close by, could possibly advance to attack Yudhiṣṭhira? For he once, in former days, conquered all beings in the Khāṇḍava forest. Who else but Rādheya Karṇa would dare to fight in Arjuna’s presence, even while still wishing to live?
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how moral and martial authority in epic narrative is reinforced by reputation and past deeds: Arjuna’s proven prowess makes an attack on Yudhiṣṭhira nearly unthinkable, and only Karṇa—driven by kṣatriya pride and rivalry—would confront such odds despite the natural desire for self-preservation.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield situation to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, emphasizing that Yudhiṣṭhira is effectively shielded by Arjuna’s presence. He recalls Arjuna’s earlier victory in the Khāṇḍava episode to underline Arjuna’s fearsome capability, then singles out Karṇa (Rādheya) as the only warrior willing to engage Arjuna directly.